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Report on religious minorities in Azerbaijan presented to European Parliament (PHOTO)

Society Materials 14 November 2013 16:54 (UTC +04:00)
Azerbaijan’s unique model of religious tolerance can be an example of how to combat Islamophobia in Europe and develop multiculturalism,
Report on religious minorities in Azerbaijan presented to European Parliament (PHOTO)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 13

By Ilkin Izzet - Trend:

Azerbaijan's unique model of religious tolerance can be an example of how to combat Islamophobia in Europe and develop multiculturalism, Chairman of the Azerbaijani State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations, Elshad Iskandarov said on Nov. 13.

Iskandarov made the remarks at the European Parliament Office in Brussels during the presentation of the report "Religious minorities in Azerbaijan: from history to independence", which was prepared by Human Rights Without Frontiers International, the State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations said.

The address of the European Parliament Vice President, Laszlo Surjan to event participants said that the report has left a deep impression on him about the atmosphere of religious tolerance in Azerbaijan, the committee said.

In his address, Surjan congratulated Azerbaijan on the achievement of such substantial results in the field of peaceful coexistence and cooperation of the Muslim majority with religious minorities in the country.

Following that, the chairman of the Human Rights Without Frontiers International, Willy Fautre presented a report prepared by the organization. Fautre said the report was prepared on the basis of studies, conducted during the organization members' visits to Azerbaijan.

The report said that a balanced state policy, implemented in Azerbaijan in the religion sphere is an important contribution in this area.

In connection with the report, the European Parliament was encouraged to strengthen strategic ties with Azerbaijan, to provide assistance to the states suffering from religious conflicts, as well as other Muslim countries in application of Azerbaijan's model of tolerance.

Elshad Iskandarov noted at the report's presentation that the present study is very important from the point of view of the first document prepared by the European institutions, which reflects the religious tolerance in Azerbaijan and the relationship between state and religion.

"It is very significant that this report was presented at the European Parliament Office on the eve of the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius. This report, in contrast to some other reports not based on reality and voiced in the European Parliament, objectively reflects the high level of religious tolerance in Azerbaijan," Iskandarov said.

Representatives of Orthodox, Jewish, Protestant and Albanian-Udi communities in Azerbaijan informed event participants about religious tolerance in Azerbaijan.

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